Spanberger, 47, based her campaign heavily on economic and affordability issues, public safety, and her support for abortion rights, NBC News reported. Her campaign also attacked Earle-Sears over her conservative social issue record and her loyalty to Trump.

In her victory speech in Richmond, Spanberger stated, "Tonight, we sent message," according to NBC News. "We sent a message to the whole world that in 2025 Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship. We chose our Commonwealth over chaos." She promised to "focus relentlessly" on "lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and strengthening our economy for every Virginian."

Earle-Sears, 61, Virginia's lieutenant governor, struggled to find a coherent message. She tried to emphasize the accomplishments of GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin's administration and championed "parents' rights" in schools. She also frequently praised Trump though the president never offered a formal endorsement and failed to mention her by name in a Monday night tele-rally.

During her concession speech, Earle-Sears acknowledged that many had "counted me out" but "we kept plugging and plugging." She also noted, according to NBC News, that Spanberger "ran as a moderate." Earle-Sears added, "If she governs as one, then she will unite us, and she'll heal our divides and win our support."

A former CIA officer, Spanberger flipped a Republican-held House seat in 2018 and cultivated an image as a more moderate Democrat during her gubernatorial campaign. NBC News reported she attracted numerous high-profile Democrats and potential 2028 presidential candidates to campaign with her, reinforcing her anti-Trump message in the race's final days.

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Anyone wanting to protest the winners is welcome to remind everyone, for the who-knows-how-many-th time, how terrible and threatening Mamdani is. In the days leading up to the race, the young and inexperienced candidate did everything possible to signal to his opponents that he had no intention of compromising on his most extreme positions. On the contrary, Mamdani spent the race's final stretch in the company of Jeremy Corbyn, who was, as you'll recall, ousted from his position as leader of Britain's Labour Party due to excessive and enthusiastic antisemitism. For the million New Yorkers who voted for Mamdani, all this made no difference. Statements like "When the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's been laced by the IDF," whose sole purpose is blaming Israel for all of America's evils, real and imagined alike, only raised Mamdani's profile.

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The messages reveal conversations where Black people are called monkeys and "the watermelon people," political opponents face threats of torture and suicide, and white supremacist symbols like "1488" appear alongside praise for Republicans perceived as supporting slavery. Epithets, including variations of racial and homophobic slurs, appeared more than 251 times combined throughout the communications shared among a dozen millennial and Gen Z Republicans, including Vermont state senator Samuel Douglass. "Can we fix the showers? Gas chambers don't fit the Hitler aesthetic," Joe Maligno, who previously identified as general counsel for the New York State Young Republicans, wrote in response to Giunta's gas chamber comments, according to POLITICO.

Since POLITICO began inquiries, Hendrix lost his communications position with Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, Walker's job offer managing Republican Peter Oberacker's congressional campaign was rescinded, and prominent Republicans, including Rep. Elise Stefanik and State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, have denounced the chat while calling for resignations. Danedri Herbert, spokesperson for Kobach and Kansas GOP chair, confirmed that Hendrix is "no longer employed" after being shown chat excerpts. A spokesperson for the Oberacker campaign stated Walker won't be brought on in light of the comments.

Giunta claims the release constitutes "a highly-coordinated year-long character assassination led by Gavin Wax and the New York City Young Republican Club" and suggests the logs were obtained through extortion, though he apologized for "insensitive and inexcusable language" while raising concerns that message logs "may have been deceptively doctored." Walker similarly apologized, stating "there is no excuse for the language and tone in messages attributed to me" and suggesting portions "may have been altered, taken out of context, or otherwise manipulated." Michael Bartels, a senior adviser to the Trump administration in the Small Business Administration's general counsel office, who participated in the chat, provided a notarized affidavit obtained by POLITICO. The affidavit claims Wax "demanded" the full chat log and "threatened my professional standing" when he resisted.

Art Jipson, a University of Dayton professor who specializes in white racial extremism, stated the Young Republicans' conversations reminded him of online discussions between neo-Nazi and white supremacist group members after reviewing excerpts provided by POLITICO. "You say it once or twice, it's a joke, but you say it 251 times, it's no longer a joke," Jipson stated. "The more we repeat certain ideas, the more real they become to us." Joe Feagin, a Texas A&M sociology professor who has studied racism for 60 years, warned the participants "will act on these views" and expressed concern the words would be applied to public policy.

Giunta, who serves as chief of staff to New York state assemblymember Mike Reilly, ultimately fell six points short of winning the chairmanship to lead the Young Republican National Federation earlier this year despite earning endorsements from Stefanik and longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone. Stefanik accepted an award from the New York State Young Republicans earlier this year and lauded Giunta for his "tremendous leadership" in August. Alex deGrasse, a senior adviser for Stefanik, stated the congresswoman "was absolutely appalled to learn about the alleged comments" and called for responsible parties to "step down immediately" if POLITICO's description is accurate. Stone stated he would "denounce any such comments in the strongest possible terms" if the chat is authentic.

While reporting this article, POLITICO was examining separate allegations that Giunta and the Young Republicans mismanaged the New York organization's finances and hadn't paid at least one venue for a holiday party hosted last year. Updated records show the organization is in more than $38,000 of debt. In the chat, Walker joked, "NYSYR will be declaring bankruptcy after this I just know it" and Giunta appeared to joke about draining funds for a vacation to Italy, with Walker replying, "Great. Can't wait to get sued by our venue." Walker had earlier joked about the possibility of exposure, writing, "If we ever had a leak of this chat we would be cooked fr fr."

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A new poll by the American Pew Research Center reveals that 53% of the American public holds a negative view of Israel. This represents an 11% increase over the past three years since the institute's previous survey.

Additionally, significant percentages of Americans do not believe that the United States will ultimately take responsibility for Gaza and advance the migration plan, according to the same Pew Research Center survey. Meanwhile, there are significant disagreements regarding whether President Donald Trump favors Israel or acts in a balanced manner in the conflict.

The Pew Research Center asked respondents about their position on the American plan to take control of Gaza and promote a migration plan. Of those surveyed, 38% think it is unlikely that Trump will continue with this policy, and 26% indicated "somewhat likely," meaning they are somewhere in the middle. Only 20% answered that it is very likely, and 16% said they were not sure.

The implication, according to the Pew Research Center, is that six out of ten Americans (62%) oppose US control of Gaza, including 49% who strongly oppose the plan. Surprisingly, Republicans are slightly more likely than Democrats to say there is no chance for the plan – 43% compared to 34%. At the same time, 27% of Republicans prefer the plan compared to only 5% of Democrats. 80% of Democrats responded that they oppose the move.

In the survey, researchers also examined the question of how Trump is handling relations between Israel and the Palestinians. Only 3% of Americans believe that Palestinians receive preferential treatment, but there are disagreements about whether Trump is acting in a balanced way. 31% believed that Trump favors the Israeli side compared to 29% who believe Trump is striking the right balance.

For comparison, a survey conducted last July found that 21% of Americans thought President Joe Biden favored Israelis over Palestinians, compared to 20% who thought the then-president favored Palestinians over Americans. 18% responded in this survey that he found the right balance, and 40% said they were not sure.

The division by party, in this case, is clear. 51% of Republicans believe Trump is finding the right balance. In contrast, 50% of Democrats believe the American president favors Israelis too much.

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Joe Lieberman may not have appeared to be a rebel at first glance, but this mild-mannered politician possessed a backbone of steel. As the first Orthodox Jew elected to the US Senate, he often acted as a bridge between Democrats and Republicans during an era of bitter polarization.

Bridging political divides

Imagine a Democratic presidential candidate choosing a Republican as their running mate. In today's political climate, that sounds outrageous. Yet, this almost became a reality in 2008 when Republican candidate John McCain considered selecting Lieberman as his vice president. Why would McCain partner with a Democrat? It was likely due to Lieberman's unique ability to bridge political divides.

Lieberman frequently collaborated with Republicans on significant issues, such as environmental legislation and welfare reform. His commitment to working across party lines was a hallmark of his political career, demonstrating that achieving goals often requires collaboration, even among those with differing viewpoints.

The first Orthodox Jew in the Senate

Lieberman's journey to the Senate was not just about politics but also about faith. As the first observant Jew in the Senate, he faced unique challenges. Observing Shabbat meant disconnecting from work for 25 hours each week, and attending events during Jewish holidays was often complicated. Some of Lieberman's political advisors expressed concern that his religious observance would impede his campaign. Yet, he viewed his Judaism as a source of motivation.

Throughout his political career, Lieberman maintained a daily practice of morning prayers, reflecting his commitment to his faith. This practice provided him with a sense of calm amidst the chaos of political life. Raised in an Orthodox home, he was instilled with the importance of Shabbat, which remained a priority even during his time in the Senate.

Lieberman's dedication to Shabbat was evident when he would walk for hours to the Capitol to vote on Saturdays, demonstrating his commitment to both his faith and his duties as a senator. His colleagues respected this unique aspect of his character, and it became a defining trait of his political persona. The Jewish value of tikun olam, or repairing the world, inspired him to address social issues head-on, from civil rights to environmental advocacy.

A commitment to social activism

Joe Lieberman's activism began in the 1960s, during a time of significant social upheaval in the United States. He was deeply affected by the injustices of Jim Crow laws and felt compelled to take action. In 1963, he marched on Washington, witnessing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

Moved by the struggle for civil rights, Lieberman organized voter registration campaigns and publicized mock elections to demonstrate that Black Americans were indeed interested in politics. His efforts were not just about political activism; they were personal, stemming from a belief in justice and equality.

The value of debate

Another key aspect of Lieberman's approach to politics was his appreciation for debate. He grew up in a household that studied the Talmud, which encourages lively discussions, values diverse opinions, and is unafraid to engage in disagreements. This tradition is integral to Jewish culture, where debate and discourse are necessary to understand and interpret religious texts. Lieberman's ability to embrace disagreements allowed him to work collaboratively across party lines. He believed that productive disagreements were essential to democracy as long as they were rooted in good faith and mutual respect.

Staying true to his convictions

Lieberman's political journey was not without challenges. He often found himself at odds with his party, especially regarding the Iraq War. While many Democrats opposed the war, Lieberman remained a staunch supporter, believing that withdrawing would damage American credibility and security in the Middle East. He was willing to face backlash for his convictions, showcasing a rare form of political integrity in an era marked by partisanship.

Endorsing McCain

In 2008, as Barack Obama campaigned for president, Lieberman publicly endorsed John McCain, a decision that sparked outrage among some Democrats. He felt that the Democratic Party had shifted away from the principles he once valued. His endorsement was not just a political move; it was a reflection of his deep-seated beliefs about the country's direction. This decision led to calls for Lieberman to be punished by his party, but he remained steadfast. His willingness to prioritize principle over party loyalty was a hallmark of his character, earning him respect from colleagues across the aisle.

Legacy of Jewish observance

Most people remember Lieberman as a politician who came close to being vice president. However, his legacy extends beyond political titles. He demonstrated that devout Jewish observance could coexist with a successful political career.

Lieberman's journey teaches us valuable lessons about the importance of conviction, collaboration, and the ability to engage with differing perspectives. In a time when political divisions seem deeper than ever, his example serves as a reminder that it is possible to bridge gaps and work together for the common good.

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One year after the violent assault on the US Capitol, Americans remain deeply concerned about the health of their democracy, and about a third say violence against the government can sometimes be justified, according to two polls published Sunday.

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The Jan. 6 attack on the seat of Congress, led by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, was "a harbinger of increasing political violence," and American democracy "is threatened," according to two-thirds of those surveyed for a CBS News poll.

Meantime, Americans' "pride" in their democracy dropped sharply, from 90% in 2002 to 54% now, a Washington Post/University of Maryland survey found.

With the Jan. 6 anniversary nearing, the polls offer specific causes for concern: CBS found that 28% of respondents believe force can be used to defend the result of an election, while 34% told The Washington Post that violent action against the government can sometimes be justified – the largest percentage in decades.

The results underscore the seemingly almost irreconcilable views dividing American society, which US President Joe Biden – who took office 14 days after the Capitol rioting – promised to overcome.

Two-thirds of Trump supporters continue to believe that Biden is not the legitimately elected president, the polls showed.

Some 60% of respondents say Trump bears a heavy responsibility for the invasion of the Capitol, which was perpetrated just as lawmakers were set to certify Biden's victory.

i24NEWS contributed to this report

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About 750 boisterous Jewish supporters of the Republican party gathered in Las Vegas this past weekend to hear from potential Republican presidential candidates, along with current elected officials, with the focus on the GOP's goal of taking back the Congress and Senate in the 2022 midterms and the White House in 2024.

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Speaker after speaker at this year's Republican Jewish Coalition conference accused the Biden administration of failing on many issues including damaging the strong US-Israel ties developed under the Trump administration and showing weakness against Iran as it pursues nuclear weapons.

Participants exuded optimism about the upcoming 2022 midterm elections following the successes and gains of the Republican party in state elections last Tuesday, especially the victory of the newly elected GOP governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin.

In a pre-taped message, former US President Donald Trump said that "no president has ever been a better friend to the State of Israel, and I am proud of that."

He went on to list his administration's accomplishments, including moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Trump slammed the Biden administration for showing weakness against Iran and putting the Jewish state in danger. Trump said that US President Joe Biden's "unbelievable weakness toward the Iranian regime directly provoked a missile attack on Israeli civilians," referring to the thousands of rockets fired by Hamas at Israel last May.

"Biden shamefully criticized and slandered the nation of Israel even when it was under attack," he said.

While Trump loomed large over the conference and has yet to signal if he will run for president in 2024, several other speakers included presidential hopefuls, making their pitches to a friendly audience.

Former Vice President Mike Pence told the crowd: "Make no mistake about it, President Joe Biden has turned his back on Israel," citing the current administration's desire to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), that the Trump administration pulled out of in May 2018.

The former vice president also took Biden to task for planning to open a consulate for the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem, a move he said was illegal, by establishing a diplomatic mission for a foreign entity in Israel's capital. Pence called on Congress to intervene in order to prevent the move.

'We can no longer talk about the past'

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley received an exceptionally warm welcome as she reinforced her support for Israel, citing how under her watch the Trump administration pulled out of the United Nation's Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for unfairly singling out and condemning Israel. Under the Biden administration, the United States recently rejoined the UNHRC.

Haley also expressed her admiration for the pro-Israel Washington lobby AIPAC but encouraged the body to distance itself from politicians who support policies harmful to Israel.

"I have spoken at AIPAC events many times, and they've always been unbelievably supportive to me," she said. "If a politician supports the disastrous Iran deal, opposes moving the American embassy to Jerusalem and is embraced by antisemites who support the BDS movement, then your pro-Israel group should have absolutely nothing to do with him."

In addition to focusing on Israel, many of the speakers criticized the Biden administration on domestic issues, including education, critical race theory, personal liberties and freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other speakers included Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Israel's former Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer.

Christie, a two-term governor from New Jersey who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016, urged Republicans to look forward and not back.

"We can no longer talk about the past and past elections," said Christie. "No matter where you stand on that [2020] election – no matter where you stand, it is over. Every minute that we spend talking about 2020, all the wasted time that we're there, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are laying ruin to this country."

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DeSantis, who has gained national popularity and is viewed as being a possible Republican frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, touted his achievements in office.

"In the state of Florida, I am walking that line. I am standing my ground. I'm not backing down," he said. "We've done an awful lot in the state of Florida. We have a lot more to do, and I have only begun to fight."

The Florida governor, who is up for re-election next year, took aim at the Biden administration over its vaccine and other COVID-related mandates as well as border policies. At the same time, he pointed fingers at the far-left in the Democratic Party, saying that "the woke are antisemitic. They are anti-Israel."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Israel should not count on the Biden administration to stop the Iran nuclear program, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, a staunch ally of the Jewish state, tweeted on Saturday.

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"The Iranian nuclear threat is existential for Israel. If Israel makes the grave decision that its security depends on removing that threat, it should not wait for an American green light that might never come," she added.

Halley also lambasted the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC on Saturday for hosting politicians who support the Iran nuclear deal.

"There's one thing I don't get about AIPAC, and I'm not saying anything to you that I haven't said to their leadership," she began in her speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership conference in Las Vegas.

"Why do they invite politicians to their conference who strongly support the Iran nuclear deal?" she continued as the conservative crowd applauded. "Stop rewarding bad behavior. It only gets you more bad behavior."

She added at the conference: "Bipartisanship is important. But if you make bipartisanship your whole reason for existence, then you lose sight of the policies you're fighting for in the first place.

"If a politician supports the disastrous Iran deal, opposes moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, and is embraced by antisemites who support the BDS movement, then a pro-Israel group should have absolutely nothing to do with him or her," she added.

Haley also slammed the Biden administration for renewing humanitarian aid to the Palestinians "and promoting a two-state solution."

"Look, we can all have a nice academic debate about the merits of an independent Palestinian state. In theory, it could be a good thing. Lord knows the Palestinian people have suffered too much," she said.

"But let's be real. There is no universe today under which the corrupt Palestinian Authority can run a state. There isn't," she asserted, adding that Hamas in Gaza is even worse.

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Three-dozen Republican senators introduced a bill on Tuesday that aims to block the Biden administration's plan to reopen the US consulate for the Palestinians in Jerusalem.

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Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act of 2021 was introduced by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and co-sponsored by 34 additional Republicans. It calls on the Biden administration to uphold the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and not reopen the US Consulate to the Palestinians, which was merged into the US embassy when it was relocated to Jerusalem in May 2018.

"[US] President [Joe] Biden continues to push forward his inflammatory plan to establish a second mission in Israel's capital city of Jerusalem – one for the Israelis and a second one for the Palestinians – despite the fact that this plan violates the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and is completely opposed by the government of Israel," Hagerty said in a statement.

"It is regrettable that the Biden administration insists on making moves that divide the United States and Israel when our two nations should be laser-focused on stopping Iran's terror-sponsoring regime from going nuclear; on countering growing threats from Hezbollah, Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist groups; and on strengthening and expanding the historic Abraham Accords that truly have increased peace in the Middle East," the statement continued.

In June, Hagerty also joined a group of Republican colleagues led by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to press the Biden administration to adhere to US law and refrain from reopening the Mission of the Palestinian Liberation Organization in Washington, DC, and the US Consulate General in Jerusalem for the Palestinians.

The Biden administration has announced plans to reopen the consulate in Jerusalem as part of its larger effort to reestablish ties with the Palestinians that had largely been severed under the Trump administration.

However, the plan remains a point of contention with Israel, with both Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid voicing their opposition. It is unclear if and when the United States would move forward with the plan, which could lead to a strain in ties.

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Previous reports had indicated that the Biden administration was waiting for the Israeli government to pass a budget so as to avoid possibly triggering new elections that could bring former Prime Minister and current opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu back into power.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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A poll of likely US voters conducted during the final days of the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza-based terrorist groups found a split among Democrats on American policy toward Israel and the Palestinians, with nearly half wanting to decrease military aid to the Jewish state.

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In response to the question on financial assistance, 45% of Democratic voters want a decrease in military aid to Israel from the current annual funding level of $3.8 billion compared to 25% of Republicans and 35% of Independents.

The survey by Vox and Data for Progress was conducted from May 19 to 21 among 1,319 likely voters. The poll had a 3% margin of error.

Democratic voters demonstrated strong support for US President Joe Biden's handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict while Republicans were more critical of the administration's approach.

Slightly more than half (51%) of Democratic voters assessed that Biden took the right approach toward Israel during the fighting while 61% of Republicans said that Biden was not supportive enough of Israel.

On Saturday, former US President Donald Trump lambasted Biden over the recent conflict, accusing the current president of having "criticized" the Jewish state during the hostilities.

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"He actually criticized Israel while the Jewish homeland was under attack by thousands and thousands of rockets and missiles launched," Trump said in a speech to the North Carolina Republican Convention.

Portions of this article were first published by i24NEWS.

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